Warrington · Cheshire
Lintel replacement in Warrington
If a window at your Warrington property has started to stick and the brickwork above has dipped, the lintel is a likely suspect. Send pictures of both sides of the opening, and we will tell you what we think is happening.
Guide price from£720per opening inc VAT
- Postcodes
- WA1, WA2, WA4
- Population
- about 170,000
- Area
- Cheshire
- Pricing region
- North West
Why does the ground in Cheshire matter for lintel replacement?
Warrington, Cheshire: about 170,000 residents across postcode districts WA1, WA2, WA4. We also take enquiries from nearby Widnes (7 miles), Ashton-in-Makerfield (7 miles) and Irlam (7 miles).
Parts of Cheshire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Historic brine and salt working has caused ground movement in parts of Cheshire in the past. Typical buildings in Cheshire: Brick terraces in Crewe, Northwich and Warrington, Victorian villas in Chester, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Signs you may need lintel replacement
- Window or door frames that have started to bind or distort
- Brickwork above an opening visibly dipping in the middle
- Damp patches on the inside wall just above a window
How much will lintel replacement cost in Warrington?
The ranges below reflect typical North West costs for lintel replacement, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Standard window or door opening | £720 – £2,400 | per opening |
| Wide or bay openingest. | £1,900 – £4,300 | per opening |
| Making good inside and outest. | £145 – £575 | per opening |
Which repair method suits a home in Warrington?
Replacement with a cavity tray
A damp-proof membrane is laid over the new lintel with stop ends and weep holes, so water running down the cavity is directed out rather than into the house. Many older lintels were installed without one, which is often why they failed.
Best for: Cavity walls with damp above windows
Like-for-like replacement
The failed lintel comes out and one of suitable type and size is bedded on mortar with adequate bearing at each end. Bricks above are relaid to match the original bond and the joints are pointed to blend with the surrounding wall.
Best for: Standard windows and doors with a single failed lintel
What happens when we carry out lintel replacement in Warrington?
Specify the replacement
We confirm the lintel type, length and bearing needed. For wide openings, bays or walls with unusual loads, an engineer may specify it, and where the repair needs an engineer’s design or sign-off we can arrange one.
Support the wall
Props or needles are set so the brickwork above carries no load on the old lintel. Windows are protected or temporarily removed where the work demands it, and the room inside is sheeted against dust.
Remove and replace
Brickwork is carefully taken out above the lintel, the old lintel removed and the new one bedded level on full bearings. A cavity tray goes in where relevant, then the brickwork above is relaid.
Rules for lintel replacement in England
In England, underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens a wall or foundation is building work under the Building Regulations (Part A, structure), so building control approves and inspects it. Like-for-like repairs often are not, and we tell you which applies before a price is agreed. Work to a party wall, or excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations, can also need a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Lintel replacement in Warrington: questions and answers
How much should I budget for lintel replacement in Warrington?
Guide prices for lintel replacement in Warrington start from about £720 per opening, including VAT, on North West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Can you survey a property in Warrington?
Yes, Warrington is covered, along with postcode districts WA1, WA2, WA4. We also cover nearby Widnes and Ashton-in-Makerfield.
Why do houses in Cheshire crack?
Most of Cheshire is glacial till over Mercia Mudstone. Around Northwich and the Weaver valley, historic salt and brine extraction has caused subsidence in the past, and a separate brine subsidence compensation scheme exists for parts of the county. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
What is a cavity tray and do I need one?
A cavity tray is a damp-proof membrane above a lintel that catches water running down inside a cavity wall and sends it out through weep holes. If your wall is cavity construction and the original lintel had no tray, fitting one with the new lintel is usually sensible.
Do I need building regulations approval to replace a lintel?
In England and Wales, replacing a lintel is structural work and building control will usually need to approve it. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We deal with building control where the work needs it, and include the cost in the quote.
Related work in Warrington
- Gable end wall repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Floor joist repairs
- Extension pulling away repairs
Lintel replacement near Warrington
If rust is showing above the windows of your Warrington home, photograph it close up and we will tell you whether replacement is due.